Brutal cold begins to leave central Illinois; here's what you need to know
Central Illinois will receive a reprieve from the brutal cold next week but not before conditions remain frigid for at least two more days.
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has lifted all warnings and advisories for Sangamon County, as temperatures hit 9 degrees at 11:24 a.m. Saturday but with winds of about 25 mph from the west gusting at 35 mph. However, it isn't as cold or windy as it was on Friday, where high temperatures only peaked at 2 degrees, with wind chills getting as low as -35 degrees that morning.
Still, the impact of the brutal cold lingers as Christmas Eve commences. Here's a look at what we know:
The forecast
While Saturday will be cold, it will seem balmy in comparison to Thursday and Friday. NWS has high temperatures hitting 12 degrees under mostly sunny skies, the first time since Thursday morning temperatures will go into double digits in Springfield.
More:When grocery stores open and close for Christmas Eve and Christmas around Springfield
The high wind will keep wind chills below zero in the -6 to -13 degree range for much of the day.
Christmas Day will begin sunny, cold, and windy but with less wind than in previous days. Highs are expected to hit 16 degrees, with wind chill remaining in the -5 to -15 degree range.
By Sunday night, a system coming from the Pacific could lead to a return of snow in the area, with about an inch predicted for Springfield.
Snow remains in the forecast for Monday morning with temperatures warming up to 28 degrees, which is much more normal for this time of year. After another cold day on Tuesday, warmer temperatures return in the middle of next week, with temperatures getting into the 50-degree range by the end of the week.
The impact on travelers
Even as the weather gets a little bit warmer Saturday, many roads are still at least partially covered in ice and snow, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
This includes Route 4 and Veterans Parkway, Wabash Avenue to Old State Route 54 and Old State Route 36, MacArthur Boulevard from Lenox Avenue, South 6th Street to the Interstate 72 interchange, Stevenson Drive to Dirksen Parkway, Dirksen Parkway to the I-55 business loop, State Route 29 to the I-55 interchange and from J. David Jones Parkway to State Route 10, Clear Lake Avenue, Sangamon Avenue, State Route 54 to Onarga, State Route 97 from Jefferson Street to Havana and State Route 125 from State Route 97 to Beardstown.
Amtrak has three trains running from Springfield Saturday; however, all of them are delayed, with two Texas Eagle trains – 22 and 422 – being delayed for nearly six hours.
The lone Lincoln Service train scheduled to depart from Springfield – train 318 – will be delayed for 30 minutes.
Greyhound's Saturday buses will arrive in Springfield at 12:50 p.m and 10:50 p.m, returning to service after two days off. Buses on Thursday and Friday were canceled due to the weather.
At Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, one outgoing flight has been delayed and another canceled as a result of the weather. American Airlines Flight 4995, with service to Dallas-Fort Worth is scheduled to take off at 12:30 p.m., a delay of 6 1/2 hours from its original 6 a.m. departure.
United Airlines Flight 3825 with service to Chicago (O'Hare) is canceled. It was scheduled to depart at 6:40 a.m.
For incoming flights, American Airlines Flight 9897 from O'Hare was canceled. It was supposed to arrive at 6:10 a.m. American Flight 9900 from O'Hare has yet to take off due to a 6-hour delay. Originally scheduled to arrive in Springfield at 6:10 a.m., it will now arrive at 12:20 p.m.
The impact on the community and safety
The city has encouraged people to use the overflow shelter operated by the Salvation Army at North 11th Street as the main warming station during the storm.
Officials reported 92 people were at the shelter Saturday morning, with 65 having visited Friday night. In prior days, 54 visited Thursday, with 66 staying on Wednesday before the storm hit.
More:Parents of 3-year-old Auburn girl announce her death following battle with cancer
The wintry weather Thursday made life difficult for Springfield firefighters responding to two fires that evening. Both fires were at houses that were either vacant or unoccupied at the time.
In the first fire in 1900 block of Cook Street, a home was fully engulfed in fire about 2:30 p.m. The building was unoccupied and Chief Brandon Blough said the condition of the structure combined with the fire made it impossible for firefighters to enter.
The cause is still under investigation.
The second fire occurred around 9:14 p.m. in the 3000 block of South 12th Street. Firefighters reported that a home was completely on fire with flames coming from the windows. The blaze threatened a neighboring building on one of its sides.
The fire was extinguished by 9:57 p.m. and the home was estimated a total loss. Firefighters are still investigating the cause.
Springfield Police Department reported few problems out on city roadways during the storm. SPD Lt. Bob Jones said the limited number of significant reports was a rarity for the first snow of the year.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Brutal cold beginning to leave central Illinois
